A CASH-strapped council in hot water with the government has mounted a spirited defence of a decision to spend £14,000 on a DVD.

North Dorset District Council, which has been capped for its hike in council tax, splashed out on the DVD in a bid to hold its own among other authorities, it has been claimed.

But firefighter and serving councillor Steve Hutchings slated the move, saying he was "upset" at the expenditure because over £10,000 earmarked for community safety had been cut from the budget.

Deputy leader Peter Webb said the council had received an offer to make the DVD as part of a package which included two free places at a Local Government Association (LGA) conferences.

The council did not normally attend LGA conferences and had been "badgered" to do so. The authority had been criticised for being too inward-looking and not learning from others, Cllr Webb said, and chief executive Liz Goodall had taken up the offer.

"The DVD had to be produced professionally, hence the cost.

"It was shown at the LGA conference and the cost was low compared with that spent by other authorities on displays and stands," he added.

"It focused on our ICT programme and our approach. It picked out the main points of what we had been doing and showed we're prepared to hold our head up and share our good practice."

First published: October 12